The astonishing true-life story of Jean-Dominic Bauby -- a man who held the world in his palm, lost everything to sudden paralysis at 43 years old, and somehow found the strength to rebound -- first touched the world in Bauby's… MoreThe astonishing true-life story of Jean-Dominic Bauby -- a man who held the world in his palm, lost everything to sudden paralysis at 43 years old, and somehow found the strength to rebound -- first touched the world in Bauby's best-selling autobiography The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (aka La Scaphandre et la Papillon), then in Jean-Jacques Beineix's half-hour 1997 documentary of Bauby at work, released under the same title, and, ten years after that, in this Cannes-selected docudrama, helmed by Julian Schnabel (Basquiat) and adapted from the memoir by Ronald Harwood (Cromwell). The Schnabel/Harwood picture follows Bauby's story to the letter -- his instantaneous descent from a wealthy and congenial playboy and the editor of French Elle, to a bed-bound, hospitalized stroke victim with an inactive brain stem that made it impossible for him to speak or move a muscle of his body. This prison, as it were, became a kind of "diving bell" for Bauby -- one with no means of escape. With the editor's mind unaffected, his only solace lay in the "butterfly" of his seemingly depthless fantasies and memories. Because of Bauby's physical restriction, he only possessed one channel for communication with the outside world: ocular activity. By moving his eyes and blinking, he not only began to interact again with the world around him, but -- astonishingly -- authored the said memoir via a code used to signify specific letters of the alphabet. In Schnabel's picture, Mathieu Amalric tackles the difficult role of Bauby; the film co-stars Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josée Croze, Anne Consigny, and Patrick Chesnais.

Julian Schnabel and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski fundamentally retool the template for the biopic to create one of the greatest portrayals of the mind's eye ever put to film. A discomforting but inspiring struggle for one enduring, final expression.

One of the most stunning emotional knockouts recorded in cinematic history concerning an editor (Mathieu Amalric) who suffers a massive stroke, but remains… MoreOne of the most stunning emotional knockouts recorded in cinematic history concerning an editor (Mathieu Amalric) who suffers a massive stroke, but remains determined to write his memoirs of his experiences through communicating with the only part of his body that isn't paralyzed, one of his eyes, to an aide. What director Julian Schnabel has constructed is an unnerving, extremely personal masterpiece in struggling to overcome an affliction, and the self-doubts, guilt, anger, and fleeting hope one encounters along the way. The acting is very good, although that is not what is most impressive about the film, which is how it is told through Amalric's character's perspective, showing just how much of a struggle something like this can be. While it is relentlessly sad, it is powerful and incredibly moving all the way through. This is a movie that should be a must-see for anyone who knows someone dealing with a stroke or some other kind of physical ailment. It does a flawless job capturing the emotional cycle and inner-thoughts of someone who deals with it, somehow, someway.

Chris Weber

Based on his memoirs of the same name, this is the story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the one-time editor of Elle Magazine who, after a debilitating stroke, became… MoreBased on his memoirs of the same name, this is the story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the one-time editor of Elle Magazine who, after a debilitating stroke, became the victim of Locked-In Syndrome- a condition where he was unable to speak, and the only parts of him that worked were his mind and his left eye. To communicate he was forced to slowly and painstakingly blink as people read off the letters that he wanted to use to form sentences. It sounds very tedious and awful, but he manged to write his memoirs using that method, so that is definitely a testament to thew strength of determination and will power.
This is a depressing film, but it's not nearly as depressign as I figured it would be. I think it's actually a lot more beautiful and filled with hope and enlightenment, so that takes the edge off. That, and the superb way the story is told gives you more to think about, letting you focus more on how they did it instead of the tragedy of the situation.
Schnabel and Janusz Kaminski (the dp) do an excellent job of telling the story, mostly by showing it from Bauby's POV. This is done with unique camera placements, double exposures, and all sorts of cool lenses and other effects. From visual and technical perspectives, this is a real masterpiece. The audience gets to experience things from how Bauby did, and, while it is harrowing it times, you really gain a ton of respect for the man.
Besides all the neat techniques, this is still a wonderful piece of work. It's got wonderful cinematography overall (not just he POV stuff), a great story, and some terrific performances, espeically Amalric. This is one of those cases where the fiulm is so dependent on the lead role to carry things that, if he fails, the film fails. Thankfully, Amalric knocks it out of the park. It's a shame he got snubbed at some awards ceremonies though, because he has one of the most challenging and unglamoruous roles here. He was very brave to take this one on, and I have really come to love him as an actor as a result.
Give this film a shot. Yeah, it's kinda bleak, and arty, and a bit pretentious, but it really is touching, inspiring, and one hell of a cinematic achievement.

Jan Marc Macababayao

The Diving Bell And The Butterfly is a true narrative on and of French author, journalist, editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who wrote a book of same title with his… MoreThe Diving Bell And The Butterfly is a true narrative on and of French author, journalist, editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who wrote a book of same title with his left eye. A triumph of the persevering human spirit over a seemingly impossible challenge. A convincing offering of a perspective through brilliance in cinematography and direction. Life-affirming. Life-changing. Accomplished.

Jennifer Xu

Only the French can pull this off. Schnabel turns what could be a potentially boring subject into a magnetic, lyrical splendor. The climax was perfect, the… MoreOnly the French can pull this off. Schnabel turns what could be a potentially boring subject into a magnetic, lyrical splendor. The climax was perfect, the acting was heartfelt, and the music fits like a glove. Never does it turn into arty nonsense or meaningless froth. <br/><br/>And I have changed my mind about cinematography: Atonement, you no longer hold the position of the most beautiful movie in the world, Le Scaphandre et le Papillon has surpassed you by miles. At the end scene when the eye looks at things sideways, roaming all around, and then all of a sudden the camera flips right side up, I thought I would cry from the gorgeousness. It's not a pretentious kind of beauty, it's as if you had just perchanced upon the moment and happened to capture it at exactly the right time at the right angle, and somehow this discovery happened a thousand times over. My gosh, if only Schnabel and his band of artistic geniuses could get together and turn MY life into something this fantastic.

Daniel Perry

Bold first-person film-making reigns in this true story that reminds us that our lives can be changed completely at any given moment: a well-to-do magazine… MoreBold first-person film-making reigns in this true story that reminds us that our lives can be changed completely at any given moment: a well-to-do magazine editor suffers a stroke and becomes paralyzed save for the blinking of one eye. Through a therapist's inventive solution - a board of letters starting with those most commonly used - he learns to communicate by answering yes or no to the letters, and thus writes his autobiography. Bit of a one-note film, overall, but touching and shot in creative manner true to the source's autobiographical nature.

Matthew Slaven

Through brilliant use of the medium, we are given an acutely visceral impression of being inside the useless body of Jean-Dominic Bauby, all of us sharing in… MoreThrough brilliant use of the medium, we are given an acutely visceral impression of being inside the useless body of Jean-Dominic Bauby, all of us sharing in his extraordinary and limited experience, and learning of his poetry, imagination, and passion for all of life. We are also begged the question of how much we would sacrifice for someone we knew in his position.
P.S. This is not a French film. It's American (two Tom Waits songs!), but authentic to its non-fictional subject, a French man in a France.

Jim Hunter

The former editor of <i>Elle</i> suffers from locked-in syndrome.
I think the best word to describe this film is maudlin. I can understand people… MoreThe former editor of <i>Elle</i> suffers from locked-in syndrome.
I think the best word to describe this film is maudlin. I can understand people who may be moved by this story, a French <i>My Left Foot</i>, but by the end of the film, I didn't feel as though I had learned anything. As much as the film uses POV shots and its lack of linearity reflects Jean Do's stroke-affected thoughts, I still didn't know him as a person or what allowed him to continue despite his impediments. What's the take-home? What's the theme? Is this merely another story about an afflicted man taking what life shells out like a champ?
Overall, there are moments during <i>The Diving Bell and the Butterfly</i> when I thought about how shitty it would be to be in Jean Do's state, and this opportunity self-reflection and the way locked-in syndrome was presented are the best things about the film; however, the filmmakers failed to do the one thing we ask of them when we pay our ten bucks: "Tell me a coherent fucking story."

♥Robyn M♥

On December 9, 1995, Jean Dominique Bauby, the editor of Elle magazine, suffered a massive stroke which left him with "locked in syndrome"... and the… MoreOn December 9, 1995, Jean Dominique Bauby, the editor of Elle magazine, suffered a massive stroke which left him with "locked in syndrome"... and the only thing he can move is his left eyelid.
a speech therapist, (Marie Josee Croze) teaches him a laborious form of communication, and with this he is able to dictate his memoirs.
This really is an astonishing true life story ,about a man who held the world in his palm and lost everything to sudden paralysis at just 43 years old, and he somehow found the strength to rebound.
interesting to note that Julian Schnabel won Golden Globe for Best Director with this movie,im not surprised at all~!

Lucas Martins

Terrific! That's the thing I was talking about!

paul oh

Cinematography in this film was beautiful and different. The story was rich and deep. Its truly a masterpiece!

Cynthia S.

This is an interesting documentary-style French film. However, I did not find it to be as inspiring, or moving, as many of the other people. Maybe it's… MoreThis is an interesting documentary-style French film. However, I did not find it to be as inspiring, or moving, as many of the other people. Maybe it's just my lack of appreciation for French films? I find most of them terribly slow..to the point of excrutiating. This one we can just add to that list, I guess.

Fernando Rafael Quintero Castañeda

A gripping tale of a man's terrible illness, Le Scaphandre et Le Papillon, is a beautifully photgraphed and very well-written piece of art. Julian Schnabel… MoreA gripping tale of a man's terrible illness, Le Scaphandre et Le Papillon, is a beautifully photgraphed and very well-written piece of art. Julian Schnabel makes this film work in a fantastic way, and definitely lets you become 'Jean-Do' with his great style and vision. This film explores (and causes) a wide array of emotions, especially in the scenes with Jean-Do and his father or with his ex-lover, Céline. The relatively unknown cast was great: Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Anne Consigny, Marie-Josée Croze, Olatz López Garmendia, and Max Von Sydow. The scene where they sew Jean-Dominique's eye shut is fantastic.